As proud pet parents, we sometimes struggle to admit when our dogs aren’t completely perfect. Wait, what?
Of course, they’re perfect to us, no matter what their health records say or how long it takes them to learn a trick.
Still, at some point, we all reach that “Okay, I need to face this” stage and accept the truth. Recently, a Vermont owner, Casey Rock, went through this when he noticed his senior Shih Tzu, Shimmy, walking into doors.
At first, he assumed Shimmy’s long fur was covering his eyes. But then, he realized it was something much more serious.
It Wasn’t Because Of His Coat
Shimmy came into Casey’s life at age fifteen, just hoping to spend his golden years in a warm, loving home. And guess what? Not only did he receive all the love, he truly came alive again, turning into a playful senior whose age felt irrelevant.
Now seventeen, Shimmy is still thriving. But his recent “clumsy” behavior started to concern his owner.
Casey noticed Shimmy was bumping into doors and stumbling more often than usual. At first, he trimmed the hair around his eyes, thinking that would help him see better. But even after that, the problem continued. In fact, it got worse.
One day, Shimmy barked at the door as if it were a person. That’s when it hit Casey: Shimmy could barely see at all.
“I thought my dog’s hair was getting in his eyes and that’s why he couldn’t see very well, so I got just a quick trim around his eyes, and he’s currently yelling at my door to give him food. He’s blind,” Rock wrote in the post.
The Vermont owner, who already shared funny videos of Shimmy on TikTok, decided to post this moment, too. He didn’t expect Shimmy’s “door confusion” to go viral.
Soon after the clip went viral on TikTok, people flooded the comments with funny responses.
“He’s not blind he just knows that door is hiding food somewhere and demanding it gives up it’s secret,” one commenter jokingly wrote.
Others jumped in with their own similar experiences.
“Trimmed up my yorkie thinking the same. Then got his eyes checked. Hair is short, eyes are fine. Turns out he has dementia,” one person added.
Nearly 18 But Still Going Strong
There’s no denying Shimmy is getting up there in years. At seventeen, his health isn’t what it used to be, but even so, his zest for life hasn’t dimmed!
He’s still a happy little guy with a joyful spirit who loves having adventures. He continues to enjoy multiple walks a day, which is pretty amazing considering he turns eighteen this October.
Even though Shimmy’s poor eyesight affects his day-to-day life, there’s no doubt Casey will stay by his side through it all.
For now, Shimmy will keep living the good life, stretched out on a cozy couch, ruling his little kingdom. One thing’s certain — his golden years are filled with all the love and comfort he deserves.